A yacht aground on Ryde Sands and listing to one side prompted an emergency response from the Coastguard yesterday afternoon (Saturday).
At 14:10, Coastguard Rescue Teams from Bembridge and Ventnor were mobilised to Ryde Esplanade to reports of a yacht hard aground with the welfare of those onboard unknown. Solent Coastguard were unable to raise the vessel on VHF radio.
Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service were tasked to make contact with the vessel, with the lifeboat arriving on scene just a short while later.
It was soon confirmed by GAFIRS’ volunteer crew that all onboard the casualty vessel were safe and well – and planned to wait for the next high tide to float off.
Bembridge CRT and Ventnor CRT were both stood down once on scene at Ryde.
It proved to be a busy Saturday for the Island’s Coastguard Rescue Teams with 3 other incidents recorded.
At 16:04, Ventnor CRT were tasked to help Needles CRT – who were called out at 15:10 – to locate and assist an injured male on Tennyson Down near Freshwater. The casualty, who was found near the Tennyson Monument, was packaged and stretchered the long distance down into Freshwater to the awaiting ambulance.
Just over an hour later, at 17:20, Bembridge and Ventnor Coastguards were tasked to a concern for welfare report at Culver Down. The incident was quickly resolved by the Police.
The last shout of the day was at 22:05 on the banks of the River Medina – opposite the Isle of Wight Festival. Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Team were called to the vicinity of Newport Rowing Club, but the incident was soon passed into the hands of Hampshire Constabulary and its Marine Unit.
Sounds like the crew didn’t have a navigational chart, or VHF radio either.
Glad they could afford a nice yacht though!